FAQs

CSQ is an independent, not-for-profit, industry-funded body supporting employers, workers, apprentices, trainees and career seekers in the building and construction industry.

We do this by:

• subsidising training for tradies, workers and small and large businesses to help them build their careers and capability
• promoting careers in construction and supporting pathways into the industry
• working with industry partners to help keep talented people in the industry
• providing thought leadership to the industry around skills, training, industry trends, major projects and employment data.

CSQ receives funding from an industry training levy in order to fund training costs for:

• job seekers
• current workers
• those in between jobs/contracts (within 6 months)
• those looking to re-enter the industry (within 6 months)

CSQ is funded by a statutory training levy established under the Building and Construction Industry Act 1991. The levy is charged on Queensland construction projects worth greater than $150,000, where CSQ receives 0.1% of the cost of the construction project that we use to fund training and skilling costs.

CSQ provides funding towards training and skilling for current workers and career seekers in the building and construction industry. The courses are not free, but CSQ will help to fund the costs with an aim to cover 75% of the total cost of Short Courses, Higher Qualifications, and Skills Assessment and Gap Training (SAGT). CSQ does not control what an RTO charges to provide a course, but CSQ’s funding contribution is consistent across all RTOs.

The amount of money contributed varies depending on the course and the RTO, but CSQ’s funding contribution is consistent across all RTOs with an aim to cover 75% of the total costs. For a full list of courses, please visit our Course Selector.

There is no age limit on our funded training – but you do need to be either:

• working in the industry
• looking for work in the industry
• a construction worker who has been unemployed for less than six months

…in order to be to be eligible, so you would need to meet your employer’s minimum age requirement. There is no upper age limit.

We are not an RTO and do not conduct training or run the courses ourselves. We work with our preferred RTOs throughout Queensland who provide training and upskilling. To check what courses are offered and which RTOs CSQ has partnered with visit our Course Selector.

All available CSQ funded courses can be found by using our Course Selector

Short courses are individual competencies and skills sets designed for workers wanting to update their skills and knowledge, meet compliance requirements, get a licence or diversify their skills. The Short Courses program provides funding to assist with upskilling and cross skilling workers in the building and construction industry.

The Higher Qualifications program is for when you’re keen to move into a higher-level role in general or civil construction. The Higher Qualifications program provides nationally accredited qualifications ranging from a Certificate IV up to an Advanced Diploma level.

Our SAGT program will help you turn your experience into a formal qualification. SAGT is for those working in the industry — or looking to re-enter — but don’t hold a formal qualification. The program connects you to training and assessment services to identify the skills you already have, and provide the gap training you need to attain a nationally recognised Certificate III level qualification.

Our Customer Service team are here to help. For more information please contact us

There are a broad range of careers available in the building and construction industry – with a snapshot available here to discover which one could be right for you.

CSQ funds a variety of programs to assist those looking for a start in the building and construction industry, with a number of resources available to help you find the right career.

While CSQ doesn’t provide financial assistance to apprentices and trainees, the Queensland Government has a range of assistance available including Youth Allowance/Austudy/ABSTUDY, financial support and loans plus living away from home allowance. Apprentices and trainees can access our Short Courses programs and 3rd and 4th year apprentices can also access Higher Qualifications.

If you are an employer in the Queensland building and construction industry looking to develop your workforce or employ an apprentice or trainee, CSQ provides information and guidance to assist you in connecting to organisations that support career seekers.

The Training Plan (found in our Corporate Reports) details CSQ’s funding priorities for skills investment and service delivery for the funding year (October-September).

The programs and services in the TP are shaped by extensive and ongoing consultation with industry and associated stakeholders together with an evaluation of CSQ’s programs and service delivery, forecast activity in the sector and workforce supply.

To get involved please contact us.

The Farsight project is a study into the future of construction, and what the industry may look like in 20 years. CSQ collaborated with CSIRO to explore what this means for jobs and skills in the building and construction industry.

CSQ analyses industry trends and conducts extensive research into the building and construction industry in Queensland, with a number of publications and resources available on our website for industry.

Ready for Work Kits are supplied by CSQ to RTOs delivering CSQ’s Pre-Apprenticeship and Major Projects pre-employment programs. Each kit contains Personal Protective Equipment and access to an online e-book, required for recording the Structure Workplace Learning component.

For all media enquiries, please email [email protected].

For all enquiries, please email [email protected].